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In microbial nitrogen metabolism, the occurrence of hydrazine as an intermediate is rare. [36] Hydrazine has been proposed as an enzyme-bound intermediate in the nitrogenase reaction. [37] Recently, using detailed molecular analyses and combining complementary methods, Kartal and coworkers published strong evidence supporting the latter mechanism.
Glutamine synthetase (GS) (EC 6.3.1.2) [3] is an enzyme that plays an essential role in the metabolism of nitrogen by catalyzing the condensation of glutamate and ammonia to form glutamine: Glutamate + ATP + NH 3 → Glutamine + ADP + phosphate Glutamine synthetase catalyzed reaction
Recent results, however, show that HAO does not produce nitrite as a direct product of catalysis. This enzyme instead produces nitric oxide and three electrons. Nitric oxide can then be oxidized by other enzymes (or oxygen) to nitrite. In this paradigm, the electron balance for overall metabolism needs to be reconsidered. [7]
Nitrogen fixation is a chemical process by which molecular dinitrogen (N 2) is converted into ammonia (NH 3). [1] It occurs both biologically and abiologically in chemical industries. Biological nitrogen fixation or diazotrophy is catalyzed by enzymes called nitrogenases. [2]
Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium is a two step process, reducing NO 3 − to NO 2 − then NO 2 − to NH 4 +, though the reaction may begin with NO 2 − directly. [1] Each step is mediated by a different enzyme, the first step of dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium is usually mediated by a periplasmic nitrate reductase.
Terminal electron acceptor is a compound that gets reduced in the reaction by receiving electrons. Examples of anoxic environments can include soils, [11] groundwater, [12] wetlands, oil reservoirs, [13] poorly ventilated corners of the ocean and seafloor sediments. Furthermore, denitrification can occur in oxic environments as well.
A large fraction of the chemical elements that occur naturally on the Earth's surface are essential to the structure and metabolism of living things. Four of these elements (hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen) are essential to every living thing and collectively make up 99% of the mass of protoplasm. [1]
Nitrogen is a constituent of every major pharmacological drug class, including antibiotics. Many drugs are mimics or prodrugs of natural nitrogen-containing signal molecules: for example, the organic nitrates nitroglycerin and nitroprusside control blood pressure by metabolising into nitric oxide.